The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-12-02
THE ORGAN RECITAL.

We cheerfully give place to the CON-
munication below, from gentleman of
musical culture and taste. It is hoped
it will prove an incitive to greater inter-
est in the cultivation of music. There
is unquestionably vast deal of unde-
veloped musical talent in this commu-
nifty, which would be an agreeable sur
prise were it brought out, rightly trained
and made manifest.
The organ recital at St. Matthew's
church on Thanksgiving evening was
one of those unusual as we'll as delight
full events which occur once only in a
generation.
The writer was present at the recita-
ton or trial of the first organ possessed
by the church in the building which it
occupied on the lot On which the Court
House now stands over forty years ago !;
and well recollects its first use by the
then organist, Mrs. II. B. Hinsdale,
whose daughter, it is understood, is to
manipulate the stops and keys of the
very fire instrument recently set up, in
its powerful aid in properly rendering
the music of the church "a most worthy
and talented successor and inheritor of
musical qualities. He remembers, too,
the many pleasant hours which he, with
the company of young people unsteady
inclined, spent in the little organ loft
and they were not few, or confined to
any one Observation-Disclosures ambition
it was to demonstrate to the world that
at Southport, on the shore of Lake
Michigan, as good music could be heard
as in Boston, Albany or New York, the
cities OF their former residence, and
superior in quality to that of its rivals
on that. shore. Southport was at that
period an ambitious and go-ahead town,
and its young people found time in the
midst Of its busting activity to cultivate
the taste for music; the church choirs
at that time containing people who
could read and render the most difficult
music at sight.
The scene that evening brought the
Renaissance wildly to mind.
An invited audience, seated by ticket
and the request of the rector, that
nothing unseemly by way of applause
take place in the church edifce while
the programme should be executed and
carried out, insured the utmost quiet
and attention.; the only drawback to
which was, that the delight Of the audi
ence must necessarily be expressed in
other ways than by physical demonstra-
ton of satisfaction.
Of the instrumental numbers render
ed, the Ofertorio," by Baptiste, "The
Shepherds lay" by Wagner, and Lar
co." by Handel, were the best; the
trained " Hallelujah Chorus" of Handel
requiring an orchestra and large chorus
of voices to vindicate its massive char
acter, and make it ineligible; the others
being either familiar or fragmentary.
Of the vocal numbers, consisting of
trios and solos, the latter was the most
notable and surprising. 1t is something
new in Kenosha to hear young lad only
twelve years old sing in high soprano a
selection which it would tax the re-
sources of professional female oratorio
singer successfully to render. Yet this
was done, and done in strict time and
measure, without break or discord.
Master Anderson is prodigy in this
respect, and delighted his intelligent
listeners. His was also the leading part
in the trios-the secondary parts being
carried by Masters Wicherspoon and
Rein; theaccompaniment was excellent
And here, what better to secure the
enjoyment of young people, particularly
in the winter season, than the practice
of music: and what more certainly in
dicates the correct musical taste of a
community so much as the choice of
such subjects as were the theme of this
organ recital; and what would 80 effect
ually stimulate the sleeping musical
energy Of this community as success
sion of these elevating entertainments at
least once a month, conducted with the
manifest propriety which attended this
recitation. No edifce, however sacred
its uses, could be in the least degree
desecrated, while the example of decor
UNI might well be, as it would be, imi-
tated in the public halls, concert rooms
and places of amusement by the incul-
cation of polite manners and good breed
ing, which it is urged, with show of
truth, is not the present character OF
public assemblages in what is termed
The ROwdy West" "B."